January ~ Thrifting and some healthy changes...

 

Found a camisole at the Thrift Shop and I was SO pleased...

A lacy camisole had been on my "wish list" for quite a few months.

The cost of the ones that I loved were much more than I wanted to spend.

Trying to be mindful of expenditures now that Hubby is fully retired. 

Slowly coming to the reality that we are now "pensioners."

The cost was under $5 so easily justified :-))

Paired it with my faded denim shirt....added some pearls.

I am really enjoying wearing denim these days.

The denim jeans (no spandex) from MNG purchased last year.

Have a few old distressed items that I am happy to say didn't get culled.

The denim jacket from Old Navy, the Old Navy darker denim shirt, lighter one (here) and the denim jumper by Tribal and a chambray denim long tunic from Lands End.

I have on order a new denim dress...from Lands End.

I love how soft the garments feel when they have been washed many times.

~ COZY ~

Adding more fibre daily...

Bran Buds and protein rich Greek Yogurt

1/3 cup of each mixed together in the morning after my cup of coffee.

Also reducing portions for a while to see if this helps me shed a few pounds.

I have tried intermittent fasting for the past year and was not seeing much difference.

We have had a mixed bag with weather...

sunshine and clear blue skies mixed with gale force winds and rain.

Despite the inclement weather 

I need to push myself to get out in the fresh air...

Mother Nature's Pearls...

Snowberries.

There is snow in the forecast!!!

Lovely hand cream, William Morris At Home.

A gift from our son and the grandchildren.

Did a quick manicure today...Sally Hansen "Expresso" one coat dries in a minute. 

Soft faded denim and pearls with a wee bit of lace peeking out.

This image shows off the lace...

I didn't have my black velour jacket open this much at coffee!!!

I just wanted to show you the pretty lacy details that are hidden.

Lingerie is really a private item in our wardrobes...

wearing it makes us feel feminine and comfortable.

I love the Prima Donna line of bras and panties...

Lily Pad Lingerie here in Victoria carry their line.

I am due to visit them soon and purchase my annual supply.

Well I suppose that is all to share for now...

Hope your year is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Saving money, lingerie, quinoa salad and my poor sister.

I love lingerie and seem to be drawn to the boutiques that sell French lines like Chantelle and La Perla, but my goodness, I find them to be quite expensive.

Saving money,
while still buying decent fitting and pretty undergarments
has been a bit of a tedious job.

Fortunately I found some great basics at Sears and Marshall's
and they were purchased at budget friendly prices.

My all time favourite rose

Jude the Obscure is in full bloom out front in the garden.

I would love a soft peach blush bra and pantie set.

This Bali bra was found at Marshall's for just under $20.

It is a serious workhorse in the undergarment world!

Thank goodness for the architects of bras!

The "granny panties" are by Jessica from Sears.

The lace is pretty and the stitched panels help keep the wobbly bits in check!

I purchased 6 of these and I usually hand wash and hang to dry all my lingerie as it lasts much longer that way.

These were very reasonably priced...I cannot remember exactly what I paid for them but I think all 6 were about $35.

I feel very feminine when I am wearing nice lingerie.

Do you read Jennifer's blog "A Well Styled Life?"

She recently wrote a post about granny panties.

You can read it here.

The Eres panties she used in her post cost a LOT of money!

Can you guess how much they cost?

$255 a pair!

Would you pay that for a pair of granny panties?

I suppose if money grew on trees I might but alas it does not and I am very mindful of expenditures since retiring.

My poor sister was thrown off her horse when they rode through a wasp nest on The Galloping Goose trail near Metchosin.

She sustained complex fractures in her arm that requited plates and pins and she is now recovering at home.

I made a tasty quinoa bean salad from the Whitewater Cookbook for her...

and I'll bring a rose bouquet, chocolates and magazines.

We plan to go out for lunch and I will be the driver as she has her arm in a cast and will be wearing that cast for about 8 weeks.

She is already going squirrelly at home...

it must be so frustrating

I totally empathize.

I'll do my best to cheer her up.

My morning espresso was wearing a Happy Face today!

Hope that you have a great weekend.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO

Retirement dressing...

Darling Daughter has a keen eye for vintage treasures and she found this amazing leather handbag.

 ~ Kelly Style ~

The closest to an Hermes Kelly bag that this Humble Hostess will ever own!

Having a daughter who knows your taste and who shops a lot is quite convenient!

I rarely go thrifting anymore unless I am with her...

~ I am trying not to spend much money 

and to be content with less. ~

My wardrobe is much smaller than it was when I was gainfully employed.

My retirement lifestyle is casual

simpler 

than when I was working.

Every morning I put on my

walking clothes

and

things to wear when I am gardening.

My walking gear consists of a pair of black knit capri length pants

a tee top

scarf

jewelry

bamboo pop sox

walking shoes

~ Casual dressing is not sloppy dressing. ~

Classic clothes are worn 

when I go out 

running my errands

for appointments

or

with my husband

friends

sister and Mother.

Clothes in the past couple of years have not "worn out."

There are a pair of skinny NYDJ that have faded but they are still fine to wear.

 (I do not wear ripped jeans but faded are OK)

A classic white shirt was sadly stained beyond bleaching 

by a spot of unknown origin...

now gone.

Clothes purchased for summer include:

white linen pants

white and grey long linen top

white linen tank top

white V neck sweater

blue and white striped short sleeved tunic top

black Clark sandals

~ I do not plan on buying anything more this season. ~

I find that most mornings I work around The Humble Bungalow and go for my walk then come home and freshen up.

I will change clothes

if I am going out running errands or playing bridge with the ladies at the club...

otherwise 

I stay in my fitness gear

to bake bread

read my book

garden

action domestics

prepare dinner

blog

~ I do like to "play around" with accessories ~

a pretty scarf

earrings

a stack of sterling vintage bangles 

or perhaps a strand of pearls

~ Editing the wardrobe has been a great exercise ~

It has shown me what I really love to wear

~ I wear the same styles and shapes ~

When I shop I tend to buy similar items over and over.

With that thought in mind I really can avoid the shops unless my current pieces fall apart or become laundry fatalities!

~ Recreational shopping is not high on my radar these days ~

Although if a friend wants me to accompany her on a shopping trip

I am more than happy to help her find some new things!

It is fun spending other peoples' money.

Our Humble Bungalow House and Garden 

is where we are funnelling most of our money these days.

~ Plants, Paint and Pipes ~

~ It is fun living vicariously through bloggers whose focus is on fashion ~

Thought you might like to see this cute sign that I recently saw posted on the gate of a home in our neighbourhood...

walking never fails to offer opportunities for beautiful and interesting photographs.

Do you think a dachshund might be in residence?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Ooh La La Paris with Jamie Cat Callan...fingers crossed!

I'm dreaming of Paris...
I've wanted to go to Paris for a long time.
I think it all started when I was a preteen and wore Evening in Paris cologne...those beautiful shaped cobalt blue perfume sets were regular gifts at Christmas and birthdays. Dabbing cologne on my pulse points made me feel very feminine and grown up.
I adore Audrey Hepburn and have watched all of her films many times.
I am particularly fond of her role in Sabrina...
do you remember when Sabrina comes back from Paris after attending cooking school with her new chic coiffure and her haute couture ensemble?
She exudes French Chic Style.

I am surprised that it has taken me so long to actually get motivated to go to Paris as I have wanted to go there for as long as I can remember...

Our two children arrived when I was in my early 20's so I could not just pack up and leave them...
then I was busy with my career.
It is only now that I am retired that I feel ready to make the trip.
It could be my 60th birthday present!

The French classes are starting up again next month after the summer break and I have registered and paid my dues.
I hope to join in the Cafe Pause locally one afternoon a week to converse entirely in French with others interested in practising the art of conversation...how better to prepare for interactions in Paris than to chat over a coffee?

My Paris plans have changed as my travel mate is having second thoughts so I have my name on Jamie Cat Callan's Ooh La La Paris Tour waiting list for next May. 

You may know Jamie through her books...

if you haven't read her books you are in for a treat.

I love her writing style and her Parisian flair.

Her books are the perfect summer read especially of you are dreaming of Paris and French Chic Style.

Jamie graciously entertained 12 lucky women this past May while they saw the highlights of the city and were privileged enough to get "behind the scenes" in several exclusive shops.

By all accounts they had a delightful time...

I now have my hopes pinned on joining Jamie as she leads this tour next year.

I think I'll be re-reading Jamie's books to get me prepped for the tour!

I am saving in earnest for my trip to Paris.

A while back I mentioned that I was trying to figure out how to sell some of my modernist jewelry and I have recently rented a shelf in the local antique mall Vanity Fair on Fort Street.

So far I have successfully sold a beautiful Robert Larin bracelet.

I plan to keep the theme of my shelf in the modernist style...

I have some teak Dansk items, and lots of Swedish and Finnish art glass.

There are bangles and darling daughter is going to put some jewelry in as well.

I hope that this venture will prove to be a viable way to add to my savings...

Summertime is a great time to pick up a good book...
books do not have a season but I find more time to read when we are aboard our boat.
It is a much smaller space than the Humble Bungalow and there is no garden to take care of...
so when I have the boat ship shape it leaves me time to read.

In the spirit of thrift (and saving for Paris!) these books were borrowed from our public library.

I watched a TV series that sounds a lot like this book

I'll be visiting the Riviera (vicariously) when I delve into the pages of this one!

I'll continue to work hard to save for my Paris dream trip.

Are you dreaming and saving for something special?

I will be posting sporadically over the next week as I have a blog break planned so if you don't hear from me do not fret I will be back soon.

Hostess

More thoughts on building my wardrobe and meet my new white jeans!

Do you like to get a bargain or intentionally buy things that you need on sale?
If you are on a budget like I am you may search for many weeks to find the right item at a price that you can justify.
Recently I found some new pieces at Value Village or as we commonly refer to it here as "The "VV Boutique."

If you have been following my weight loss journey for awhile you'll recall that I have had to rebuild my wardrobe almost entirely from scratch.
I have pretty much finished replacing the basics for fall and winter and am thinking ahead now to spring and summer.

I have rebuilt my wardrobe for under $1,000.00 which is no small sum when one considers that I am retired but
this includes dressy evening and special occasion wear, everyday casuals, tops, sweaters, lingerie and outerwear.
I opted for quality cashmere's and name brand basics that would mix and match with each other so that I could get the most bang for my buck.

It took me over an hour to scour the racks at VV and like Sheila taught me I looked at all the size ranges.
Sunday is a great day to explore VV at your leisure because there is free parking on the street.

Two new sweaters were found and at such a budget friendly price they were great value for the money...
the first one retails for $100-120 in our local shops.

It is made of cotton in black and has a lovely shawl collar detail.

I'll wear this as a light layer over a tank top or tee.

Or a jacket in the warmer weather.

Are you familiar with the Pure Hand Knit brand?

They make fun sweaters in a variety of styles and bright colours in 100% cotton.

The sweaters are hand knit by women in Thailand...4500 women are behind this company busy knitting.

I can almost hear the collective click of their needles....it is music to my ears.

Lands' End deep V neck cardigan in an angora and wool blend.

Soft and cozy.

I can wear this with my dressy black pants or skirt for evening.

Pop it on with a tank top or tee and my favourite jeans.

I have a white pair of Club Monaco pants (also thrifted for $6.00) which when paired with this cardigan and several strands of pearls like Coco Chanel will be on the dressy side of casual.

White Jeans are a new and exciting discovery!

I love them.

I know many women love bright coloured and pastel jeans but I have never hopped on that bandwagon.

Club Monaco garments are well made and neatly finished.

I blanch a wee bit at the regular price of their garments but I do love to go into their stores and browse.

I get some great ideas of how to mix and match simple pieces and accessorize them to create a polished outfit.

Never underestimate the power of an accessory.

They are easy to find at reasonable prices and it is the best way to personalize your signature look.

If you are loathe to go into thrift or consignment shops try art gallery gift shops, local ethnic stores or antique markets...ebay and Etsy have thousands of great pieces just waiting for the right buyer.

Pearls are wonderful and these days I think the larger gum ball sizes are more fun than the smaller ones...

a little bit of whimsy can make me feel younger!

Massed in a grouping of several strands like Coco Chanel I get more mileage out of them.

I wear fragrance most days now that I am not at school.

(the cats don't seem to mind)

Mitsouko makes me feel very grown up and sophisticated.

NEVER spray it on your pearls or the nacre will dissolve and your pearls will be ruined.

I wish that I had a large mirror with great lighting here in The Humble Bungalow so that I wouldn't need to sneak around taking pictures in the fitting rooms!

It is freezing cold here in Victoria.

I am bundled up wearing cashmere sox and several cashmere sweaters hunkered down indoors.

I walked to the Yoga Studio this morning for a gentle Hatha class instead of walking 5K in minus 4 degree temperatures.

Thank goodness that we have heat and power so that we can keep the freeze at bay and make pots of tea.

The resident hummingbirds are sipping iced sugar water today and they are not straying too far from the feeder.

I think they must be storing up their energy for the cold night ahead.

Snow flurries are in the forecast!

OOTD ~ Double Denim and cheap jeans!

Double denim...
still not too sure about this trend.

I tried it my way this morning.
Opting for a new pair of dark wash skinny jeans that I found at Walmart.
Red ballet flats by Nine West.

I am not too sure how you readers will feel when you read that I have started shopping at Walmart.
It's true! Let me explain...

I drink gallons of Perrier and they have cases for under $20 and I have been paying $6.99 for 6 at Thrifty Foods so it's a no brainer for me now that I am on a pension. Mr. HB's Gatorade that he sips when working outside on the home and garden projects is also a substantial saving...$4.97 vs. $7.99 at Thrifty Foods.
The cat food is currently on sale at $.57 each vs. $.99 and their fruit and produce is lovely and much less expensive so I think it's worth the drive.
Meat and dairy is purchased at another market as I prefer free range organics.

Lands End navy and white Polka dot top

(so old we might call it vintage!)

Blue Willis denim jacket

years old and still going strong.

vintage pin ~ a gift from darling daughter

I love this pin

a big baroque pearl in the centre surrounded by channel set crystals

I think the black detail is ebony....

I weighed in at WW and have lost another 1.3 pounds this week for a grand total of 23 pounds.

Still have to lose a few more pounds before I hit the re-adjusted goal that I have set for myself.

If I lose just a couple more than my original 25 I can be a lifetime WW member and attend the meetings and weigh in for free...that is good incentive for me so I am trying to get there in the next few weeks.

When I hit that goal I plan to go out and buy a pair of black dress pants,

(I have no black pants and I find that they are such a versatile classic)

  a nice quilted vest to keep me warm when I pop out to run errands,

maybe a black and white plaid Burberry wool scarf.

 (because I've earned it!)

That's it, 

that's all I have on my wish list...

(well maybe a cashmere sweater as my others are all very large but I can belt them or just wear them a bit big!)

Hope that you are having a great week!

What's on your fall wardrobe wish/shopping list?

Be Well

Hostess

Savouring the simple things...OOTD

As I wind down from the last school semester...
and embrace the rhythm and gentle flow of the summer hoildays I realize how much I savour the simple things...

fresh fruit is in abundance

breakfast is quick and easy

juicy ruby red plums

a sweet delight for the taste buds

one of my students gave me this peace lily plant

it is a perfect perk up for the corner of the laundry room

there is time to move slowly

no need for a frantic frenzied rush to accomplish things

I have a "do list" which I run wavy lines through when I finish a job

 the silverware has been polished

drawers have been tidied

books have been sorted

there is more

but 

tomorrow is another day

for now it is enough

Can you feel the ebb and flow of your daily round?

"laundry helper"

 Chester is on the job!

Pepper and Chester love me working downstairs

they race around chasing their toy mice and jump in the laundry basket

 often sneaking the opportunity when my back is turned to lie atop the freshly folded laundry.

I love the freshness of clean bedding

the softness of the cotton sateen as one slides between the sheets

such a simple pleasure

Mother always said to my sister and I 

"no matter how poor you are soap and water are cheap"

Never underestimate the theraputic value of doing laundry or cleaning the house.

Don't forget to stand back and admire your handiwork once you have accomplished a task.

It will sustain you in ways that you may not have thought possible.

It works for me...

but

I have a simple way of looking at things

perhaps that makes me sound like a simpleton which is not how I intend it

hopefully you get my drift!

I've been wearing activewear most days to work in the garden

action domestic chores 

walk my route...

I have a sneaking suspicion that this might be my new uniform

to get fitter one needs to wear the clothes!

I wore this OOTD when Mr. HB and I went to see the financial planner.

Lizette pants

H&M tank

Style & Co. sweater

chunky pearls

Franco Sarto sandals

It's time to book another pedicure...

one of the luxuries that I plan to keep in my retirement.

I gave up having my hair coloured...

the grey is creeping in around the temples

I quite like it.

We will be making some other financial changes

in the months to follow...

financial security is very important for peace of mind.

What's on your agenda for the weekend?

"Stop Blending In" or Accessorizing the scarf on Easter weekend.

How are you warming up your wardrobe for Spring and Summer?
Have you embraced the new focus on the Bright Shades that are popping up in every shop?

The black, white and grey gal that I am is taking baby steps adding colour and doing it very prudently...
I do not follow trends per se but I do not want to look like I have "given up" either.
So I walk a fine line...a line which I am sure that many of us almost 60's walk.

What I choose to wear is a reflection of who I am, what I consider to be an honest representation of my tastes and socio economic class, the middle class, conservative, and becoming more mindful of consumerism and frugality.
There is an inner struggle going on, a voice that whispers...buy me,
when on the other hand the level head says you do not "need" it.

Do you want it?
Do you need it?
Will it last for many seasons?
Is it something that will give you pleasure every time you put it on?
Is it well made?
Does it flatter?

All these thoughts co-mingling together as I stand admiring a simple scarf...
A scarf, I know! How silly!
I hesitate as the clerk comes over and gushes about these scarves and the wonderful colours that they come in...
she has 3 of them already and loves hers. I move on...
circling the department and come back,
not once but twice.

Mr. HB mentions that he likes the green and blue together.
Really honey? That definitely sounds like encouragement.
That casual observation might nudge me just a little.
I put the scarf up to my face, yes the colours work...
tha fabric is dreamy, soft and wispy.
It's not too expensive...
it's versatile and pretty.
It would perk up my greys and blacks.

Nordstrom's scarf

a wispy dreamy scarf

a little bit of soft colour to light up my wardrobe.

I'm thinking now that I will need to pull out my ethnic silver and turquoise earrings

they now have a partner!

ah yes!

maybe NOT!

Perhaps...

certainly!

Haggis anyone? 

Vintage Bakelite ~ when I'm feeling artsy.

Hosting out of town guests...

maybe strangers in a strange land?

an after 5 soiree...

walking the dogs...

NO! I have two cats.

date night...

afternoon tea with Mother

This scarf is so versatile!

I am imagining all the outfits that I can wear it with so it's a wise and prudent purchase.

Storing a scarf when not in use is minimal.

Our wee Humble Bungalow has teeny tiny cupboards 

so I always need to consider that when I buy something...

anything

where will it be stored when not in use?

Do you think before you buy something?

I had fun with this post and I hope it might have made you smile.

On the news front...

Jumping for JOY!

a new grand baby is on the way!

Happy Easter!

~ ~ ~

A Very Happy Hostess!